[NLA] New Readers of Iowa Coalition

[Chris Francisco]

Archie,

So good to read and reflect upon your words.  The message that you sent to 
Illinois Adult educators at our annual conference this year was powerful 
and passionate.  I know that you are truly an advocate for the enterprise 
of adult education.  Bringing the voices of adult education students to 
this list is very important to us.

  In Illinois we face serious funding short-falls and we are deeply 
concerned.  On Tuesday, April 30th, the Illinois Adult and Continuing 
Educators Association hosted our Legislative Awareness Day.  Over 1100 
students traveled to the Capitol in support of adult education.  Several 
student speakers shared their incites and sent important messages to the 
policy makers.  One such student advocate was Manly Bowman from Carl 
Sandburg College, Galesburg, Illinois.  Manly asked about you and then 
shared stories of your mutual interest in the enterprise of adult 
education.  Archie, you are appreciated by so many of us.  Be well my friend.

peace,

Chris

At 06:07 PM 4/27/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>NEW READERS OF IOWA COALITION
>How We Can Improve Literacy in the United States
>April, 2002
>
>The New Readers of Iowa Coalition met April 2, 2002.  At this meeting we 
>discussed our history.
>Iowa has had a strong New Readers program for many years.  The reading 
>instructional program began in earnest in 1986, adult educators were 
>taught methods for helping adults learn to read, and the program began to 
>grow.  In 1990 the first New Readers Congress was held in Des Moines, and 
>that meeting has now become a tradition.  For 12 straight years the new 
>readers have come together to learn from each other, to support each 
>other, and to make their voices heard.  Following are some of the ways 
>they have spoken.
>
>1. Leadership development.  New readers have attended and presented 
>sessions on leadership.  They have demonstrated those skills by making 
>presentations, going to schools to speak, traveling to other states to 
>attend conferences and meetings, and even working to develop the national 
>adult reading organization (VALUE).
>
>II. Reading Activities.  New readers have gone to local elementary 
>schools, and have spoken to the children, and read with them.  Several 
>times new readers have presented a session at the Iowa Reading Conference, 
>on the topic: What it is like for that child in the back of the room.
>
>III. Voting.  The new readers made an appointment with the Iowa Secretary 
>of State, and met with him for nearly 2 hours, sharing their experiences 
>when trying to vote or to get information about voting.  The Secretary met 
>with the new readers at the Fall, 2001 conference, and the participants 
>spent the day looking over ballots and sharing their thoughts on those 
>ballots.  A summary of that activity was forwarded to the Secretary.
>
>IV. Self-Confidence.  Almost all the Iowa new readers report a great 
>increase in self-confidence.  One of the shyer new readers has taken over 
>the summer care for her autistic grandson.  She says she never would have 
>had the courage to do that without the new readers group.
>
>V. Better Jobs.  Several new readers have shared that they were able to 
>get higher paying jobs after gaining increased reading skill.  Others felt 
>more secure in their present jobs, and were better able to do what was 
>asked of them.
>
>VI. Behavior.  Some new readers reported improvement in personal 
>behavior.  Because of the lack of skill, occasional "bad behavior" made 
>life more difficult for the new readers.  The new confidence they 
>developed as their reading skills increased made life more enjoyable for 
>them and for those with whom they live and work.
>
>Other thoughts and comments from New Readers.
>
>1.   Sometimes people look at me funny when they find out I can't read.  I 
>don't like that.
>
>2.   In many places they won't hire you without a high school diploma.  I 
>can do the work, I just can't get the job.
>
>3.   Employers "Don't want you" if you can't read.  They seem to be scared 
>of you, like it was catching.
>
>4.   If the children have trouble in school, it is important to look at 
>the whole family!
>
>5.   Smaller student/teacher ratio makes learning easier.  The teachers 
>have time to help you.
>
>6.   Schools are graduating students who can't read.  Then they are adults 
>who still can't read.  It is like, now it isn't
>       the school's problem any more.
>
>7.   It is really hard to take that first step, to say you can't read and 
>go in for help.  It really shouldn't
>       be something shameful.
>
>8.   It is hard to know how to find help, where to go.
>
>9.   Look at a book with a blank page.  That is how a new reader feels.
>
>10. If adults don't know how to read, they can't help their children with 
>schoolwork.  They don't want
>       their children to go through life like they did.
>
>11. It takes a long time to learn.
>
>What can WE do to help?
>
>1.     Go to school and read.  This is for both good readers and those who 
>are not so good. Teachers
>         can correct the adults, too.  That shows the children that it is 
> ok to be corrected.
>
>2.     Share personal stories with children and in adult groups as 
>well.  And also share with parents of children
>         with special learning needs.
>
>3.     Get active in literacy meetings, and with the state literacy council.
>
>4.     Groups of new readers could and should travel across the state 
>sharing their stories.  They should go to other states
>         as well.  They should go everywhere people will listen to them.
>
>5.     They need to reach out to others.  This is very hard, and sometimes 
>embarrassing.
>
>6.     Try to get appointed to local advisory councils and boards.  Commit 
>to participating if you join.
>
>7.     Give back.  Volunteer where you can.  Let people know you and see 
>that you have talents, too.
>
>VALUE is the national voice for New Readers.  This should be funded at the 
>federal level and by the state directors.  The group needs backing and 
>support.  Without it, the group will be less effective.  New Readers need 
>this national voice.
>
>Archie Willard
>Adult Learner
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>Archie Willard
>millard at goldfieldaccess.net
>FAX - 515-448-3213
>URL - 
><http://www.readiowa.org/archiew.html>http://www.readiowa.org/archiew.html
>

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